Christmas comes early for the RNLI in Mablethorpe

Mablethorpe Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has received an early Christmas present in the shape a brand new lifeboat.

The delivery of a shiny B Class (Atlantic 85) inshore lifeboat took place last week and since then crews have been out testing their newest piece of equipment, which is set to help save even more lives in the future.

The lifeboat has been funded by a generous legacy from Pamela Jacqueline Saville and it will be named B-887 Jacqueline Saville in her honour.

Miss Saville lived in Cambridge until her death in August 2009. Her father was a Merchant Navy Captain who was rescued by the RNLI after his boat was sunk. This rescue inspired Miss Saville to become a lifelong supporter of the RNLI. In 1988, she had expressed her intention to leave a legacy and later mentioned that she wished to have a lifeboat named after her – this has now become a reality.

DaleChapman, Mablethorpe RNLI Lifeboat operations manager said: “Miss Saville’s incredible generosity means that we have received a new B class in-shore lifeboat which is both faster and better equipped than our previous model.

“The greater speed will enable us to react more quickly to call outs, which will enhance our prime goal of saving lives at sea.

“Our volunteer crew is thoroughly enjoying training on and trialling the new lifeboat. The team couldn’t think of a more worthwhile and vital early Christmas present.’

Mablethorpe RNLI is also set to receive another new lifeboat in the coming weeks, a D Class inshore lifeboat, D-790 Stanley Whiteley Chadwick.